Paul Westphal

Bill Westphal, who resigned from his position as Occidental College basketball coach in 1988, was fired Thursday as coach at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Westphal replaced his brother, Paul, who left Grand Canyon in 1988 to become an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. Paul Westphal, a USC graduate, played guard for the Suns and Boston Celtics in the 1970s.

Garrick Barr, a 1973 graduate of UC Irvine, has been hired by Coach Paul Westphal as an assistant basketball coach at Grand Canyon College in Phoenix. Barr was the most valuable player on the Anteaters' freshman basketball team for the 1969-70 season. He attended Aviation High School, where Westphal was the Southern Section's Player of the Year in 1968.

Former USC basketball players will meet Cal State Long Beach's basketball alumni at Cypress College Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Paul Westphal, Gus Williams, John Lambert, Mack Calvin, Maurice Williams and Jacque Hill are expected to represent USC. George Trapp, Glenn McDonald, Michael Wiley, Roscoe Pondexter, John Rambo and Lloyd McMillian are expected to play for Cal State Long Beach. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Cypress College basketball program.

Taking its first trip under new Coach Paul Westphal, the Pepperdine men's basketball team will depart Sunday for France to play a series of games against club teams. During the 12-day tour, the Waves will stop in Paris, Lyon and Nice. They also will play in Montreaux, Switzerland. Only the nine players enrolled at Pepperdine last season, led by guard Craig Lewis, are eligible to participate. NCAA rules allow teams to practice for 10 days before a foreign tour.

While Pepperdine narrows its search for a basketball coach, Bobby Braswell of Cal State Northridge said Friday he is not among the candidates. "I'm not interested in the Pepperdine job," said Braswell, reportedly a candidate to succeed Jan van Breda Kolff, who resigned last week to become coach of St. Bonaventure. The school reportedly is considering Tom Asbury, former Kansas State coach, and Paul Westphal, former coach of the Seattle SuperSonics.

* Days until opening ceremony: 13. * Olympic update: A World Health Organization official warned that Sydney could be a prime target for an outbreak of influenza during the Games, in large part because of Olympic crowds spreading flu. * March to the medals: Seattle SuperSonic Coach Paul Westphal flew to Honolulu to meet with U.S. Olympic basketball teammates Vin Baker and Gary Payton, who were upset over last week's failed four-team trade.

Dear Mike Garrett: As a longtime USC fan, may I offer the following suggestion: Before signing any deals with Tim Floyd to coach your basketball team, might I suggest you make a phone call to another ex-Chicago Bull coach with a somewhat better record: "Hello, Phil? This is Mike Garrett calling." Joel Rapp Los Angeles As a longtime Trojan follower, I'd like to add my name to the thousands who are pulling for Paul Westphal to fill the vacant position as Trojan head coach.